2007 Witch Creek Fire
In October 2007, the Witch Creek wildfire devastated large portions of San Diego County, California. In the aftermath, IBHS recognized a critical opportunity to learn from real-world outcomes. By studying these impacted communities, researchers gained valuable insights into how property protection measures influence wildfire damage—informing the landmark report Mega Fires: The Case for Mitigation.
Research & Analysis
This research compares wildfire impacts across different types of communities, including those designed with wildfire-resistant principles and those without. By analyzing factors such as housing density, building codes, construction details, proximity to wildfire, wind conditions, slope, and vegetation, IBHS identified the conditions that most strongly influence whether homes survive.
The study also integrates social research to better understand what motivates homeowners in wildfire-prone areas to take protective action—and what barriers prevent others from doing so.
Together, these findings highlight a clear takeaway: both how we build and how we maintain our properties—and communities—play a decisive role in reducing wildfire risk.
Read the executive summary for key insights, or explore the full report for detailed data, analysis, and recommendations.
